Nursing is one of the most popular healthcare careers for international students and internationally educated healthcare professionals who want to build a career in Canada.
However, becoming a nurse in Canada is not the same process for everyone.
If you have never studied nursing before, you will generally need to complete an approved Canadian nursing education program and then meet the registration requirements of the province or territory where you want to practise.
If you are already a qualified nurse from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, the UK or another country, you may be able to use the internationally educated nurse (IEN) pathway instead of completing another nursing degree.
Canada has three regulated nursing professions: Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). The exact professions and registration processes vary by jurisdiction.
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Two Main Ways to Become a Nurse in Canada
Your pathway depends on your current education and nursing experience.
Pathway 1: You Are Not Yet a Nurse
If you have completed secondary school and want to become a nurse, you can:
- Choose a Canadian nursing program.
- Meet the admission requirements.
- Apply to a Canadian college or university.
- Receive your Letter of Acceptance.
- Obtain the required immigration documents.
- Apply for a Canadian study permit.
- Complete your nursing education.
- Complete clinical training and other program requirements.
- Apply to the nursing regulator in the province where you intend to practise.
- Complete the required registration examination and other requirements.
Pathway 2: You Are Already a Nurse Outside Canada
If you completed your nursing education outside Canada and are already licensed as a nurse, you may qualify as an internationally educated nurse.
For most provincial regulators, credential assessment and verification are an important first step. NNAS is the starting point for IENs seeking registration in most Canadian provinces.
You may not need to complete another four-year nursing degree.
Instead, your education and professional background can be assessed to determine what you need to do to become eligible for Canadian registration.
Step 1: Choose the Type of Nursing You Want to Practise
Before selecting a program or starting a registration application, understand the different nursing professions.
Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses generally complete university-level nursing education and practise across hospitals, clinics, community healthcare and other settings.
Licensed Practical Nurse
LPNs are regulated nursing professionals with a different education and scope of practice from RNs.
Registered Psychiatric Nurse
RPNs are a distinct regulated profession in the jurisdictions where registered psychiatric nursing is regulated.
Your education and previous nursing licence determine which pathway may apply to you.
Step 2: Choose the Province Where You Want to Work
Nursing is a regulated profession in Canada, and registration is handled by the nursing regulator in the province or territory where you want to practise.
This means there is no single national nursing licence.
The Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators states that RNs obtain their licence through the nursing regulator in the province or territory where they choose to practise.
For example, requirements can differ between:
- Ontario
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
Quebec has its own regulatory and examination arrangements.
Choose your intended province early.
This can save time and money because your education and credential-recognition pathway may depend on where you plan to practise.
Step 3: If You Are a New Student, Choose a Canadian Nursing Program
Students who have never studied nursing will normally need to complete an appropriate Canadian nursing education program.
Common options include:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
- Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
- Practical Nursing
- Accelerated nursing programs
- After-degree nursing programs
- Graduate nursing programs
Your choice depends on your existing education.
High-School Graduates
If you are coming directly from secondary school, you may apply for a four-year undergraduate nursing program.
Admission requirements vary by institution but can include subjects such as:
- English
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Other sciences
International students must meet the institution’s specific academic and language requirements.
Students With Previous University Education
Some universities offer accelerated or after-degree nursing programs for students who already have a bachelor’s degree or other qualifying post-secondary education.
These programs can have prerequisite courses that must be completed before admission.
Step 4: Make Sure Your School Is a Designated Learning Institution
If you are an international student, your Canadian institution generally needs to be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) for you to obtain a study permit for post-secondary studies.
Do not choose a school simply because an agent or website says it is Canadian.
Verify the institution’s current DLI status and check the specific program requirements.
Also remember that DLI status by itself does not mean every program automatically qualifies for every post-graduation immigration benefit.
Step 5: Apply for Admission
Once you have identified suitable nursing programs, prepare your application.
Documents may include:
- Passport
- Academic certificates
- Secondary-school results
- Academic transcripts
- Diploma or degree certificates
- Previous university transcripts
- English-language test results where required
- Personal statement where required
- References where required
Nursing programs can be competitive, so meeting the minimum admission requirement does not necessarily guarantee admission.
Step 6: Receive Your Letter of Acceptance
If your application is successful, your college or university will issue a Letter of Acceptance (LOA).
The LOA is an important document for your Canadian study-permit application.
Most study-permit applicants also need a Provincial Attestation Letter or Territorial Attestation Letter, although exemptions apply to certain categories. Students studying in Quebec generally follow a different process involving the Quebec Acceptance Certificate.
Step 7: Apply for Your Canadian Study Permit
International students who need a study permit must demonstrate that they meet Canada’s immigration requirements.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need:
- Letter of Acceptance
- PAL/TAL or applicable Quebec documentation
- Valid passport
- Proof of financial support
- Biometrics
- Medical examination if required
- Police certificate if required
- Other supporting documents
For study-permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, one student outside Quebec must demonstrate CAD $23,448 for one year of living expenses, excluding tuition and transportation.
You must also demonstrate how you will finance the rest of your studies.
Step 8: Complete Your Nursing Education
Once you arrive in Canada, you must successfully complete your nursing program.
Nursing education combines classroom learning with practical and clinical experiences.
Depending on your program, you may study subjects such as:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Pathophysiology
- Health assessment
- Nursing theory
- Mental health
- Community health
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Maternal and newborn health
- Paediatric nursing
- Professional practice
Clinical education is an important component of nursing preparation.
Step 9: Apply to the Nursing Regulator
Graduating from a Canadian nursing program does not automatically make you a licensed nurse.
After completing your education, you must apply to the nursing regulator in the jurisdiction where you want to practise.
The regulator determines whether you meet the requirements for registration.
Step 10: Pass the Required Nursing Examination
For applicants seeking registration as an RN outside Quebec, the NCLEX-RN is the entry-to-practice examination.
The Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators confirms that anyone applying to practise as an RN in Canada, except Quebec, must pass the NCLEX-RN and meet the additional requirements of the applicable provincial or territorial regulator.
Quebec has its own professional examination arrangements.
Passing the examination is therefore an important part of the RN registration process, but it is not necessarily the only requirement.
Step 11: Meet Language Requirements
Nurses must be able to communicate safely with patients and healthcare professionals.
Language requirements are established by the applicable nursing regulator.
For internationally educated nurses, NNAS does not collect language test scores. Since October 2022, applicants submit proof of language proficiency directly to the relevant nursing regulator as part of the regulator’s assessment.
Depending on the regulator, accepted evidence may include particular English or French tests or other forms of evidence.
Do not assume that an English test accepted by your college will automatically satisfy the nursing regulator.
How to Become a Nurse in Canada If You Are Already a Nurse
If you are already a registered nurse in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria or another country, your pathway is different.
You should investigate the Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) process before applying for another Canadian nursing degree.
Step 1: Choose Your Province
Decide where you want to work.
The provincial regulator will ultimately determine whether you meet the requirements for registration.
Step 2: Check Your Eligibility
NNAS states that its services are available to applicants who completed post-secondary nursing education outside Canada and meet the applicable requirements. Its Expedited Service is available to applicants who also have been licensed as nurses outside Canada.
Step 3: Create an NNAS Account
If NNAS applies to your pathway, create an account and provide information about:
- Identity
- Nursing education
- Nursing licence
- Employment history
NNAS requires applicants to submit identity documents themselves, while other documents may need to come directly from third parties such as nursing schools or licensing authorities.
Step 4: Submit Your Documents
Your education and professional documents must be properly verified.
These may include:
- Nursing certificate or degree
- Nursing transcripts
- Nursing licence
- Registration verification
- Employment information
- Identity documents
The exact documents depend on your pathway.
NNAS emphasizes that documents must be true and complete. False, altered or incomplete documentation can result in delays or cancellation.
Step 5: Receive Your Advisory Report
After the assessment process, NNAS provides an Advisory Report.
The report is then used as part of the registration process.
Importantly, NNAS does not issue your Canadian nursing licence.
The provincial or territorial nursing regulator makes the registration decision.
Step 6: Complete the Regulator’s Requirements
The nursing regulator may require additional steps.
Depending on your education and experience, these can include:
- Additional education
- Competency assessment
- Bridging education
- Language testing
- Jurisprudence requirements
- Registration examination
- Other assessments
Your regulator determines what applies to your individual case.
Do Foreign-Trained Nurses Have to Study Nursing Again?
Not necessarily.
An internationally educated nurse may be able to obtain Canadian registration without completing an entirely new Canadian nursing degree.
However, credential assessment may identify gaps between your education and Canadian entry-to-practice requirements.
If gaps are identified, the regulator may require additional education, assessment or other steps before registration.
This is why qualified nurses should investigate the IEN pathway before spending several years and significant money on another nursing degree.
Can You Become a Nurse in Canada Without Studying Nursing in Canada?
Yes, potentially.
If you are already a qualified nurse outside Canada, you may be able to pursue registration through the IEN pathway.
If you have never studied nursing, however, you will generally need to complete the required nursing education before becoming eligible for registration.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse in Canada?
The timeframe depends on your starting point.
New Nursing Student
A traditional BScN or BN may take approximately four years, although program structures differ.
Already a Qualified Nurse
An internationally educated nurse may have a shorter or longer pathway depending on:
- Credential assessment
- Document verification
- Language requirements
- Nursing experience
- Competency assessment
- Additional education
- Examination
- Provincial registration requirements
NNAS recommends beginning the credentialing process before or at the same time as the immigration process because credential assessment can take longer than immigration processing.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Nurse in Canada?
The cost depends on your pathway.
A new international student may need to pay for:
- Tuition
- Accommodation
- Food
- Transportation
- Health insurance
- Books
- Nursing equipment
- Immigration fees
- Travel
- Other personal expenses
A foreign-trained nurse may instead have costs associated with:
- Credential assessment
- Document verification
- Language testing
- Additional education
- Examination
- Registration
- Travel and immigration
The total cost can therefore vary significantly.
Can International Students Work While Studying Nursing?
Eligible international students may be permitted to work during their studies subject to their study-permit conditions and current Canadian rules.
However, nursing programs can be academically demanding.
Students should not depend on employment income to finance their study permit. IRCC requires applicants to demonstrate sufficient funds without relying on work in Canada.
Can Nurses From Kenya Become Nurses in Canada?
Yes.
A Kenyan nurse who completed nursing education and obtained nursing registration outside Canada can potentially pursue Canadian registration as an internationally educated nurse.
The process depends on the province and the individual’s education, registration and professional background.
NNAS specifically provides services for internationally educated nurses and allows eligible applicants to begin the process before arriving in Canada.
This means a Kenyan nurse does not necessarily need to immigrate first and then begin the nursing-registration process.
Can Nurses From Ghana or Nigeria Become Nurses in Canada?
Yes.
The same general IEN principle applies to nurses educated outside Canada.
However, the exact registration requirements depend on the province where you want to practise and your individual qualifications.
Before choosing an immigration or education pathway, identify the province where you want to work and check its nursing regulator requirements.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Assuming a nursing degree automatically gives you a licence
Graduation and professional registration are separate steps.
2. Applying for another nursing degree without checking the IEN pathway
Already-qualified nurses should investigate credential assessment first.
3. Choosing a province without researching its regulator
Registration requirements are provincial and territorial.
4. Ignoring language requirements
Meeting a school’s English requirement does not necessarily satisfy the nursing regulator.
5. Sending incomplete documents
Credential assessment can be delayed when required documents are missing.
6. Using altered documents
NNAS warns that false or altered documents can result in cancellation or delays.
7. Waiting until after immigration to start credential assessment
NNAS recommends beginning the process before or at the same time as immigration where possible.
How to Become a Nurse in Canada: Simple Checklist
If You Are Not Yet a Nurse
- Complete secondary education
- Choose a Canadian nursing program
- Meet admission requirements
- Apply to a Canadian institution
- Receive your Letter of Acceptance
- Obtain PAL/TAL if required
- Prepare financial documents
- Apply for your study permit
- Complete your nursing program
- Apply to the provincial nursing regulator
- Pass the required examination
- Complete registration requirements
- Obtain your nursing licence
If You Are Already a Nurse
- Choose the province where you want to practise
- Identify the nursing regulator
- Determine whether NNAS applies
- Create an NNAS account if required
- Submit required documents
- Complete credential assessment
- Receive your Advisory Report
- Apply to the provincial regulator
- Meet language requirements
- Complete any required competency or bridging education
- Pass the required examination
- Complete registration
- Obtain your Canadian nursing licence
Final Thoughts
There are two main routes to becoming a nurse in Canada.
If you are starting your nursing career, you can study an appropriate nursing program at a Canadian institution and then complete the professional registration process.
If you are already a qualified nurse outside Canada, you may be able to use the internationally educated nurse pathwayinstead of starting your nursing education again.
The most important point is that nursing registration is provincial or territorial. The regulator in the province where you intend to practise determines the requirements for registration.
For internationally educated nurses, NNAS is the first step for most provincial regulators, although pathways and requirements vary. NNAS assesses credentials and provides an Advisory Report; the provincial regulator makes the registration decision.
If you are considering studying nursing in Canada as an international student, start by choosing the right program and institution, understanding the admission requirements and preparing your study-permit application.
If you are already a nurse in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria or another country, investigate the IEN pathway before assuming you need another nursing degree.
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